
31 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Central locking system
Radio frequency and infrared remote control
The electronic key has an integrated radio frequency 
and infrared remote control.
Due to the extended operational range of the remote 
control, it could be possible to unintentionally lock or 
unlock the vehicle by pressing the transmit button. If 
one of the transmit buttons is pressed, the battery check 
lamp lights up briefly – indicating that the batteries are 
in order. See page 351 for checking batteries.
The vehicle doors, trunk and fuel filler flap can be 
centrally locked and unlocked via remote control.
Opening and closing the windows and panorama 
sliding/pop-up roof can only be done with the infrared 
portion of the remote control. Aim transmitter eye at a 
receiver (6 or 7), press and hold transmit button Œ
or ‹, seepage34.
If the electronic key is inserted in starter switch, the 
vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked, and the trunk lid 
cannot be opened with the remote control.1Transmit button
‹ Locking
Œ Unlocking
2Lamp for battery check (see page 351 for changing 
batteries if it does not light up briefly)
3PANIC button
4Transmitter eye
5Locking tab for mechanical key
P80.35-2033-26
2
1
4
3
5 

34 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Opening and closing windows and 
panorama sliding / pop-up roof from outside 
(summer opening / convenience feature)
Aim transmitter eye of remote control at the door 
receiver.
Summer opening:
The panorama sliding / pop-up roof and all side windows 
can be opened automatically.
Continue to press transmit button Œ after unlocking 
the vehicle.
The windows and panorama sliding / pop-up roof begin 
to open after a short time.
To interrupt opening procedure, release transmit 
button.
Convenience feature:
The panorama sliding / pop-up roof and the side 
windows can be closed.
Continue to press transmit button ‹ after locking 
the vehicle.
The windows and panorama sliding / pop-up roof begin 
to close after approximately 1 second.To interrupt closing procedure, release transmit button.
Ensure that all side windows and the panorama
sliding / pop-up roof are properly closed before leaving 
the vehicle.
Note:
If the windows and panorama sliding / pop-up roof 
cannot be operated automatically by pressing the 
transmit button of the remote control then it may be 
necessary to change the batteries in the electronic key 
(if ok, battery check lamp in electronic key will light 
briefly when transmitting), or to synchronize the 
remote control, see page 351 and 353.
Wa r n i n g !
Never operate the windows or panorama sliding /
pop-up roof if there is the possibility of anyone 
being harmed by the opening or closing procedure.In case the procedure causes potential danger, the 
procedure can be immediately halted by releasing 
the remote control button. To reverse direction of 
movement press Œ for opening or ‹ for 
closing. 

62 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats, 
emergency tensioning retractors for all seat belts, dual 
front airbags, door mounted side impact airbags, and 
head protective window curtain airbags. Their 
protective functions are designed to complement one 
another.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require 
seat belt use. 
All states and provinces require use of child restraints 
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213.
All child restraints systems are designed to be secured 
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a 
lap-shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly 
recommend their use.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger 
side front airbag when it is properly installed. 
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it 
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal 
injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in back seats 
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child 
restraint system, which is properly secured with 
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the 
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint. 

67 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Wa r n i n g !
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY.• Seat belts can only work when used properly. 
Never wear seat belts in any other way than as 
described in this section, as that could result 
in serious injuries in case of an accident.• E ach oc c upan t s houl d  wear t hei r s ea t bel t a t al l 
times, because seat belts help reduce the 
likelihood of and potential severity of injuries 
in accidents, including rollovers. The 
integrated restraint system includes “SRS” 
(driver airbag, front passenger airbag, side 
impact airbags, head protection window 
curtain airbags for side windows), “ETR” (seat 
belt emergency tensioning retractors), and 
front seat knee bolsters. The system is 
designed to enhance the protection offered to 
properly belted occupants in certain frontal 
(front airbags) and side (side impact and 
window curtain airbags) impacts which exceed 
preset deployment thresholds.
• Never wear the shoulder belt under your arm, 
against your neck or off your shoulder. In a 
crash, your body would move too far forward. 
That would increase the chance of head and 
neck injuries. The belt would also apply too 
much force to the ribs or abdomen, which 
could severely injure internal organs such as 
your liver or spleen.• Never wear belts over rigid or breakable 
objects in or on your clothing, such as 
eyeglasses, pens, keys etc., as these might 
cause injuries.• Position the lap belt as low as possible on your 
hips and not across the abdomen. If the belt is 
positioned across your abdomen, it could cause 
serious injuries in a crash.• Each seat belt should never be used for more 
than one person at a time. Do not fasten a seat 
belt around a person and another person or 
other objects.• Belts should not be worn twisted. In a crash, 
you wouldn’t have the full width of the belt to 
manage impact forces. The twisted belt against 
your body could cause injuries. 

72 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Airbags
Front airbags
1Driver airbag
2Front passenger airbagThe most effective occupant restraint system yet 
developed for use in production vehicles is the seat belt. 
In some cases, however, the protective effect of a seat 
belt can be further enhanced by an airbag.
In conjunction with wearing the seat belts, the driver 
and front passenger airbags can provide increased 
protection for the driver and front passenger in certain 
frontal impacts exceeding preset thresholds.
Side impact and head protection window curtain airbags 
can provide increased protection to belted occupants on 
the impacted side of the vehicle in side impacts 
exceeding its preset threshold. 

75 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Side impact airbags, window curtain airbags
3Side impact airbags
4Window curtain airbagsSide impact airbags
The side impact airbags are designed to activate only in 
certain side impacts exceeding a preset threshold. Only 
the side impact airbags on the impacted side of the 
vehicle deploy.
The side impact airbag for the front passenger deploys 
only if the front passenger seat is occupied.
The side impact airbag for the right rear passenger 
deploys only if a preset threshold is exceeded. The side 
impact airbag for the left rear passenger deploys 
together with the side impact airbag for the driver.
Side impact airbags operate best in conjunction with a 
properly positioned and fastened seat belt.
Note:
Heavy objects on front passenger seat can cause the 
front passenger side impact airbag to deploy in a crash. 

76 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Window curtain airbag
The head protection window curtain airbags afford 
greater protection against injuries to the head and 
upper body. They fill up in the area between the A and 
C pillars (see arrows) between the side windows and an 
occupant’s head.
The window curtain airbags are designed to activate 
only in certain side impacts exceeding a preset 
threshold. Only the head protection window curtain 
airbag on the impacted side of the vehicle deploys.Important!
Airbags are designed to activate only in certain 
frontal (front airbags) impacts, or side (side impact 
and head protection window curtain airbags) 
impacts which exceed preset thresholds.
Only during these types of impacts, if of sufficient 
severity to meet the deployment thresholds, will 
they provide their supplemental protection.
The driver and passenger should always wear their 
seat belts, otherwise it is not possible for the airbags 
to provide their supplemental protection.
In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts, 
roll-overs, other side impacts, rear collisions, or 
other accidents, the airbags will not be activated. 
The driver and passengers will then be protected by 
the fastened seat belts.
We caution you not to rely on the presence of the 
airbags in order to avoid wearing your seat belt. 

77 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care IndexYour vehicle was originally equipped with airbags 
which are designed to activate in certain impacts 
exceeding a preset threshold to reduce the potential 
and severity of injury. It is important to your safety 
and that of your passenger that you replace deployed 
airbags and repair any malfunctioning airbags to 
ensure the vehicle will continue to provide crash 
protection for occupants.
Wa r n i n g !
Airbags are designed to reduce the potential of 
injury in certain frontal (front airbags) impacts, or 
side (side impact and head protection window 
curtain airbags) impacts which may cause 
significant injuries, however, no system available 
today can totally eliminate injuries and fatalities.The activation of the “SRS” temporarily releases a 
small amount of dust from the airbags. This dust, 
however, is neither injurious to your health, nor 
does it indicate a fire in the vehicle. The dust might 
cause some temporary breathing difficulty for 
people with asthma or other breathing trouble. To 
avoid this, you may wish to get out of the vehicle as 
soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any breathing 
difficulty but cannot get out of the vehicle after the 
airbag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a 
window or door.
Wa r n i n g !
To reduce the risk of injury when the front airbags 
inflate, it is very important for the driver and front 
passenger to always be in a properly seated 
position and to wear your seat belt.For maximum protection in the event of a collision 
always be in normal seated position with your back 
against the backrest. Fasten your seat belt and 
ensure that it is properly positioned on your body.Since the airbag inflates with considerable speed 
and force, a proper seating and hands on steering 
wheel position will help to keep you at a safe 
distance from the airbag. Occupants who are 
unbelted, out of position or too close to the airbag 
can be seriously injured by an airbag as it inflates 
with great force in the blink of an eye: